To get rid of burrowing animals, first identify what is making the holes, then remove the food, shelter, or access that is drawing it in. Use exclusion and habitat changes before considering trapping or other controls, and check local rules and wildlife guidance because species and protections vary.
Burrows can look alike, and an active tunnel may belong to a protected or beneficial animal. Avoid filling holes, setting traps, or applying chemicals until you know what is present. If an animal is inside a building, poses a safety concern, or cannot be identified, contact a qualified wildlife professional or local animal-control office.
What You’ll Need
- A notebook or phone to record hole locations, fresh soil, tracks, and damage.
- A flashlight and sturdy shoes for inspecting the area in daylight.
- Gloves and a shovel for ordinary yard work, not for reaching into burrows.
- Suitable wire mesh or other durable exclusion material, if a confirmed entry point can be safely closed.
- Information from your local wildlife or animal-control authority about identification, protected species, and permitted controls.
Step-by-Step
- Make the area safe. Keep children and pets away from holes, tunnels, and damaged ground. Do not put a hand or tool into a burrow: it may contain an animal, and the opening can conceal an unstable cavity. Avoid disturbing the site if you see a nest, young animals, or an animal behaving unusually. Ask local authorities for guidance before acting.
- Work out what is causing the problem. Inspect from a distance in daylight. Note whether there is a mound, a bare entrance, raised soil, clipped plants, or a trail leading to a structure. Look for fresh digging and repeat activity rather than relying on one hole. Several species create similar openings, and soil type or landscaping can change how a burrow looks. Do not handle droppings, carcasses, or an animal to identify it.
- Check local requirements. Rules may differ by species and location, and some animals or their nests may be protected. Ask the relevant local wildlife agency or animal-control office what identification is sufficient, which deterrents are permitted, and whether a licensed professional is required. If the burrow is near a public area, utility, or building, ask the property manager or appropriate service to assess it rather than digging.
- Remove what is attracting the animal. Secure rubbish in closed containers, pick up fallen fruit, and avoid leaving pet food outdoors. Store feed and seed in sturdy, closed containers. Clear spilled food and manage compost so it does not provide an easy meal. These measures can make a yard less inviting, but they will not always persuade an animal to leave if it has a den or a dependable food source nearby.
- Reduce shelter and access. Keep dense weeds and unused materials from accumulating beside buildings, and close gaps into sheds, crawl spaces, or other structures only after confirming no animal is inside. Repair damaged vents or openings with durable, appropriately sized materials that do not create sharp exposed edges. Do not block a suspected active entrance: an animal trapped inside may injure itself or find a route into the building.
- Protect vulnerable areas with exclusion. Where suitable, use a secure physical barrier around a garden bed or another specific area rather than trying to treat the whole yard. The barrier must be appropriate for the animal and site, firmly anchored, and designed so it does not trap wildlife. If you are unsure how to install it without harming an animal, ask a wildlife professional. Check it regularly for gaps, damage, or signs that an animal is caught.
- Consider nonlethal deterrents carefully. A barrier, changes to food access, or a change in routine may reduce activity. Noise, lights, and scent-based products can have inconsistent results; an animal may become used to them, and products can affect pets or other wildlife. Follow any product label and local guidance. Do not use smoke, fire, flooding, poison, or improvised devices in a burrow.
- Monitor and adjust. Record where new digging appears and whether activity changes after you remove food or improve exclusion. Give a change time to show a pattern, but do not leave a suspected animal trapped or a hazardous hole unattended. If fresh digging continues, the damage spreads, or you cannot tell whether an animal remains inside, stop and seek professional identification and advice.
- Use professional help for persistent or complex cases. A qualified wildlife-control professional can identify the animal, check for young or non-target wildlife, and explain lawful options. Ask how the animal will be handled, what will prevent another animal from moving in, and whether the proposed method complies with local rules. If a burrow threatens a foundation, walkway, or utility, have the relevant qualified service assess the structural or service risk.
Common Mistakes
- Guessing from the hole alone. A burrow’s appearance is not a reliable identification by itself. Misidentification can lead to ineffective action or harm to a protected, harmless, or beneficial animal.
- Filling an active entrance. Soil, stones, or debris can trap an animal underground or push it toward a building. Confirm activity has ended and get advice before closing a burrow.
- Using poison or fumigants. These can endanger pets, children, scavenging wildlife, and animals that were not the target. They can also be unlawful or unsuitable for the site. Do not put chemicals into a burrow.
- Relying on a single repellent. Repellents and scare tactics often fail when food, shelter, and easy access remain available. A lasting plan usually combines identification, attractant removal, and exclusion.
- Trapping without a plan. Traps can injure non-target animals and may be regulated. Do not set one unless local rules permit it and you understand how it will be checked and handled; professional help is safer when in doubt.
- Ignoring re-entry points. Removing an animal without securing a suitable opening or food source may leave the area attractive to another one. Address the cause, not just the visible hole.
Tips
- Take photographs from a safe distance and compare them over time. Fresh soil or repeated tracks can be more informative than a single inspection.
- Focus on the precise area that needs protection. Securing a compost area or garden bed may be more practical than trying to exclude wildlife from an entire property.
- Keep barriers maintained. A loose edge, damaged panel, or uncovered gap can undo otherwise useful exclusion.
- Coordinate with neighbors or a property manager if the food source or access route crosses property boundaries. One yard’s changes may have little effect if the animal can still find food next door.
- Be patient with habitat changes, but treat structural damage, a trapped animal, or a risk to people or pets as a reason to seek prompt professional advice.
Troubleshooting
New holes appear after you remove food. The animal may be using another food source or returning to established shelter. Recheck the area for uncovered bins, fallen produce, feed, and entry gaps. If activity continues, get the animal identified before choosing another control.
You cannot tell whether a burrow is active. Do not test it by reaching inside, pouring water in, or blocking the opening. Observe from a distance and ask a wildlife professional or local authority how to assess activity safely.
An animal has entered a shed or crawl space. Keep people and pets away, do not corner it, and do not seal the opening while it may be inside. Contact a qualified professional for a safe exit and exclusion plan.
A barrier does not stop the digging. Check for gaps, loose edges, and routes around the protected area. The barrier may also be unsuitable for the species. Ask a professional to identify the animal and recommend an appropriate design rather than adding hazardous materials.
The damage is close to a building or utility. Do not excavate or probe the ground. Contact the property manager or a qualified service to assess the risk, and use local wildlife guidance for the animal-control question.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell which animal made a burrow?
Look at the whole pattern: opening shape, soil displacement, tracks, feeding damage, and when activity occurs. No single clue is conclusive. Use photographs and ask a local wildlife professional if identification affects what you can safely do.
Is it safe to fill a burrow?
Not while it may be active. Filling an entrance can trap an animal or cause it to dig elsewhere. Confirm that the burrow is unoccupied and check local guidance before closing it.
Do mothballs, smoke, or flooding work?
They are not safe general-purpose burrow controls. They can harm animals and people, create hazards, or move an animal into another space. Do not put them into a tunnel; use exclusion and attractant control instead.
Will a pet keep burrowing animals away?
Do not rely on a pet to deter wildlife. A confrontation can injure the pet or animal, and pets may dig or disturb a nest. Keep pets away from burrows and use a physical barrier where appropriate.
When should I call a professional?
Call when the species is uncertain, activity persists, an animal is inside a structure, young may be present, or a burrow threatens a walkway, building, or utility. Contact local authorities as well when you need to confirm protections or permitted methods.
Will an animal return after it leaves?
It may return if food, shelter, and access remain available, or another animal may use the area. Keep attractants secured, maintain barriers, and monitor for new activity. If the problem resumes, reassess the cause rather than repeating a method that did not work.